2017 Audi R8 V10 Spyder Australian pricing revealed

AUDI’s look-at-me drop-top Spyder version of the ballistic R8 has arrived on red dirt, priced from $388,500 before on-road costs and finally bringing a return to topless fun for the V10-powered Audi flagship.

Customers wanting a 318km/h breeze in their hair are being asked for an extra $33,884 on top of the equivalent R8 Coupe, which arrived last year.

The mid-engined naturally aspirated V10 uses a dual injection system and 5.2 litres of displacement to produce 397kW of power and 540Nm of torque, compared to the discontinued model’s 386kW and 530Nm. Its fuel efficiency figures have also improved, with Audi claiming 11.7L/100km, bettering its previous 13.3L/100km figure.

It’s faster, too, springing to 100km/h from a standstill in just 3.6 seconds (previously 3.8 seconds) and reaching a top speed of 318km/h.

As before, a seven-speed S tronic transmission is featured that delivers power to Audi’s newly designed quattro all-wheel drive system, which delivers traction to front and rear wheels according to the driving situation which, in extreme cases, can share up to 100 percent to either the front or rear.

Other features include its lightweight cloth hood that uses electro-hydraulics to open and close the roof in 20 seconds at up to speeds of 50km/h. Inside, Audi’s virtual cockpit is featured with a 12.3-inch instrument display which includes driving dynamics information, map data and more, while the Bang & Olufsen Sound System offers an “excellent audio experience” thanks to loudspeakers on the seat’s headrest.

For now, Audi supercar fans will not be offered the Spyder in V10 plus form, with the Coupe retaining rights to the full-fat 449kW output in top-spec form at a $389,616 price tag.

Compared with the mechanically similar Lamborghini Huracan Spyder, the Audi offers a significant saving. Opting for the most potent LP610-4 will strip $470,800 from your account, while the rear-drive LP580-2 version still requires an investment of $429,000.